Twitch Launches New Desktop App For Streaming

Soon you won’t need a browser tab open to stream content from Twitch. The Amazon-owned company is launching a new app called Twitch Desktop App – creative, I know. The native desktop app will allow users to watch streams, chat with friends, and send private messages. This new app comes days after Twitch launched a new Twitter-like feed named Pulse. Amazon also recently introduced Prime integration which lets Prime users get special upgrades to their Twitch account.

The desktop app will officially debut on March 16, as an open beta. The app will be free for anyone to download at Twitch’s website. The app will look familiar for some gamers because it’s a retooled version of Curse. It’s the gaming app Twitch bought back in August of last year.

Twitch Desktop App is a retooled version of Curse

With the newly retooled app, the site has a growing number of social features. They’re working towards building a social network where streams and gamers can interact together. The old features of Curse aren’t going anywhere with the new update either. That means screen sharing, voice and video calls, and tools to set up community servers are staying around for everyone.

Not only will the app function as a social hub for the streaming site, but it’ll also expand into a game store later this fall. Twitch plans on taking on Valve with their game store. It’ll have a full desktop store where you can buy and launch titles. The store makes sense for Twitch as they can better control what games have built in streaming abilities instead of using an HDMI tool to stream games to the platform. Valve has all their social features and game store on the desktop app for users to access easily. They’re the only ones in the market as of now, but the new apps including this one could give Valve a run for their money.

Tell us in the comments below what you think about the new desktop app and whether you’d use it over Valves offerings?